>From: UUCP:CEDI@AX.APC.ORG
Date: 21 05 92, 23:49:10
From: NativeNet@gnosys.svle.ma.us
Update 59
CEDI
So Paulo, May 19, 1992
We are retransmitting CCPY's most recent report on the
situation of the Yanomami.
"May 11, 1992
CCPY - Update 56
POLITICS
Indian Foundation does not have funds to operate
President's telephone cut off because of unpaid bill
The National Indian Foundation (Funai), the government
indigenous affairs agency, is completely out of funds right
now. The situation is so serious that on May 4 almost all
of the agency's telephones were cut off because of unpaid
bills, including Funai president Sydney Possuelo's direct
line.
Shortage of funds also affects the foundation's operations.
In indigenous areas inspection and services have practically
come to a halt. No demarcation is being carried out. The
only exception is the demarcation of the Yanomami area,
funded separately from the Funai budget (more information in
this Update).
Although all federal government agencies are strapped for
funds because of the recession, the situation of Funai is
more serious than most. At the beginning of the year it
requested Cr$240 billion for its operations in 1992,
including demarcation of indigenous areas. When drafting
the federal budget, the President of the Republic, acting
through the Ministry of the Economy, reduced the request to
Cr$23 billion. When Congress evaluated the administration's
proposed budget, it further cut the foundation's funding to
Cr$18 billion. Of this, Funai has received only Cr$3
billion in the first months of the year.
According to the daily Folha de S.Paulo Funai's indigency
puts Possuelo's position at risk.
INDIGENIST POLICY
Chamber of Deputies prepares new statute
The Chamber of Deputies is studying a reformulation of the
Indian Statute. This statute is a kind of code, a group of
laws that regulate the rights of indigenous peoples and
government action in their affairs.
One of the main issues under discussion is whether or not
the State should continue to be the indians' legal guardian.
If guardianship is ended, indigenous groups will, among
other things, be free to dispose of their land.
The CCPY believes that the end of guardianship is desirable
but not immediately applicable to all indigenous groups.
Constitutional safeguards are not enough to guarantee the
rights of countless indigenous peoples in the Amazon,
especially isolated groups like the Yanomami.
CCPY
Priorities for next year
The CCPY has defined its priorities for the period from
March 1992 to April 1993 in the political context of the
Collor administration. They are:
1) To expand health work, building a second permanent
health care base in Bala# and improving and modernizing the
offices in Boa Vista; to improve coordination,
communication, information and administration at the CCPY
central offices in So Paulo.
2) To increase contact and political pressure on Congress
and the Ministries of Health and Justice in order to (a)
ensure adequate financial support for existing government
programmes; (b) ensure allocation of human and material
resources necessary to government health programmes; and (c)
protect the area from new incursions and invasions by
miners, and other illegal acts.
3) To draft and begin a pilot education project in two
locations in the area, with the aim of making the Yanomami
more aware of their relations to our society.
TERRITORY
Demarcation of Yanomami area finishes
Demarcation of Yanomami territory is practically over.
However, the government has not yet officially announced
that the work is finished. It appears that the President's
Office wants to hold a ceremony that will have political
impact on Brazil and abroad.
Physical demarcation, however, does not guarantee the
security of the Yanomami. In last few weeks work teams have
seen miners' planes flying over the area. They are dropping
loads of food and fuel. This is a sign of the miners'
interest in invading the area again, encouraged by the lack
of inspection by Funai and the Federal Police.
Comissao pela Criacao do Parque Yanomami - CCPY
Rua Manoel da Nobrega 111 cj.32
04001 Sao Paulo SP Brazil"